Invalid bed



April 16, 1929. w. M. LOXLEY INVALID BED Filed July s, Y1925 2 Sheets-Sheet April 16, 1929.

W. M. L .OXLEY INVALID BED Filed July 8, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented pr. 16, 1929.

UNITED. STATES y raam PAT-ENT OFFICE.

WALTER M, LOXLEY, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T GEORGE B.

MCCANN, OF DAYTON, OHIO. Y

INVALID BED.

Application filed July 8, 1925. Serial' No. 42,249.

, This invention relates to beds,lparticularly adapted'to the use of sich or helpless persons.

Its objects are to enable the occupant to assume different positions withease and comfort, and facilitate the manipulation of the bed by anattendant.

The invention consistsin a bed having -a sectional body frame, the several sections of which-are ointed togetherand mounted on a pedestal in such manner that they may be adjusted to various positions without discomfort to the occupant and with a minimum of Y recumbent position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof; Fig. 3 vis a side elevation of the bed adjusted to sustain an occupant in sitting posi tion; Y

Fig. eis a side elevation, partly in section, of a fragment in the position of adjustment shown in Fig. 2;

F ig. is across-sectional view of a detail, the section having been taken on line 5-'5 of Fig. 4r

Fig. 5 isy a section on line 6-6 of Fig. 1,

. .4 Villustrating a locking mechanism for locking the head section of the bed in various positions;

7 is a plan view of the detail illustrated in Fig. 6; Y

Fig. 8 is an elevation of one of the segment guidesand bolt casings at the head end of lthe pedestal; and

Fig. 9 is a front elevation of a fragment of lone of the pedestal legs and a tie rod at the front end of the pedestal.

Vets the inventionv resides in the frame springs and mattress havevbeen omitted from .the drawings for clearness of illustration,

'sections being supported on a four-legged pedestal terminating in wheels or rollers, so

that the entire structure may be easily moved and. of equipment whereby the body frame sections maybe adjusted and locked at dif ferent inclinations with respect to each other, according as the comfort or convenience of the invalid or other occupant of the bed may re uire. The equipment by which the several adjustments are effected and the various proportions and relationships to each other of the several parts of the frame are such as to enable an attendant to effect the adjustments with ease and facility.

The pedestal'is quadrilateral in outline, viewed from above. It comprises two parallel side bars 10, ranging fore-and-aft, each of which is supported by two legs 11 and 12 joining, respectively, the head and foot ends of the bar l() at an obtuse angle, so that the feet are separated by more than the length of the bar to adord a substantial base area, while permitting the upper part of the pedestal to occupy less space than would otherwise be required, thus rendering the structure more compact, convenient and graceful in certain positions of adjustment. Bars and legs 11 and 12 may be made of any suitable material or cross-sectional shapes. It is preferred to make them of metal tube sections which may be joined in lany suitable manner by cast metal or other connections. For purposes of exemplilication, there have been shown connections 13 composed of two members providedwith overlapping flattened portions let inserted, respectively, in the ends of the tube sections which constitute the main portions of the bars and legs. Nheels 17 and 17a, which constitute the leg terminals or feet, may each be journaled between the sides of the forked members i8 and 18a, each. of Y,fhich has a shank inserted 1n the extremity of a tubular leg. It is contemplated that the wheels at the Y head end shall be casters. and that, accordingly, the forked members 18 at that end shall be swiveled in the legs, whereas the forked members 18@1 at the other end are intended to be secured rigidly to the legs. The head end legs 1l are tied together by transverse tie rods 19, disposed a little above the wheels 17,

and by rod 20 disposed at the angle where the legs 11 join the bars 10. Besides having the function of tie rods, said rods 19 and 2O have otherfunctions, to be hereafter set forth. The two legs 12 are spaced and tied by a tie rod 19"', the ends of which serve as journals for the wheels 17a at the foot end of the pedestal. The Vsectional body frame is supported on the described pedestal by brackets 2l, slide bearings 22, and rack segments 23 and 24, as will be presently explained.

rlhe body frame consist-s principally of a head section 25, a foot section 26 and a middle section 27. Said head section is pivoted to the middle section 27 on a transverse pintle rod 28, which preferably lies'below the plane of said sections when they are horizontal,`the adjacent ends of the frame members et which the sections are formed being turned downward and, in the form illustrated, fiattened and perforated for receiving the ends of said pintle rod 28. Saidfoot section 26 is pivoted to the middle section 27 by a transverse pintle rod 29, the ends of which extend through and project at each side of the joint. The described sections may bek made of any desired rod-like material, but are shown made of pipe or tube bent to the desired form. In case tubing is used for the sections, connection may be edected between sections 25 and-27'by means of solid members 30 having round ,Shanks inserted in the ends oli' the tubing and interlacing hinge ends perforated to receive pintle pins. Straight members 31, likewise with round slianks and flattened exposed ends, may serve asv the hinge members connecting sections 26 and 27, tie rod 29 serving as the pintle for suc-h members. Head section 25 is of U-shape and may be so formed by bending, ir"` made oi'ltubing as shown. So, also, is foot section 26 but this section is preferably narrower than section 25, as may be seen by referring to Fig. l. Middle section 27 is narrowed adjacent its pivotal connection with section 26, the narrowing being effected by bends 32 in the bars or tubes of which itis composed. Head section 25 may be equipped with a head or pillowy guard 33, and ootscctionA 26 vwith a footboard or rest 34.

Brackets 21, heretore said to be mounted on side bars l0 oi' the pedestal, may have clivided upper ends to receive the side members or' the'U-shaped section 25 near their ends. Fulcrum or pivot pins 35 connect said' section 25 te said brackets, so that said section may assume the horizontal position in which it is illustrated in Fig. 2, or the inclined position Villustrated in Fig. 3, or any one of a number of intermediate angular positions, as may bek cured, at 37 to an arm 38, which depends from the end of one side member or" section 27 near the pivot pintle 29, as indicated at 39. Bracket 22 may be formed of sheet metal. It vhas a large opening by means of which it sur k vrounds and is secured to pedestal side bar l0,

et 22 and guide 36, slidingly mounted in it, Y

permit this movement, allowing the middle section at the same time to assume a slightlyinclined position as indicated in Fig. 3.

The distance Vbetween the ulcrum 35 and the upper surfaceoil the pedestal body represented by the top or' side bars l0, is greater than the distance between said ulcrum and the ends of the side bars-of sections 25 and 27. The oblique guide opening in each bracket 22 is elevated above the side bars l0 and lies in a vertical plane slightly inside of the bar 10. This provides ample space between the bars 10 andthe sides of section 26 in' all positions, permitting the lever 40, hereinafter described, to be pivoted as shown, preventing pinching 0i' the bed clothing, interfering of the bed clothing with the movements of the body frame and minimizing danger of accidental catching the hand oliV attendant or occupant between relatively moving parts during adjustment; I

l/Vhen the head section is lowered to horizontal positiomas shown in Figs. l and 2, the 'foot section 26, if the latter is at that time lowered to the position shown in Fig. 3, will be elevated to horizontal position. rIhis relative movement is caused by movement of the pivoted oot-section-elevatinglever consistingYV of two rods 40, each having a right-angle bend at 4i which is pivoted on the side bars'of section 27, preferably in a bearing member 42 disposed about midway of the side bars. The head ends of rods 42 are connected by a cross tie rod 43 and the foot ends by a cross-tie rod 44. As shown, those portions of rods that extend iromthe bend 4l toward the head of the the bed frame, lie outside of the iframe, while those portions that extend from said bend Vtoward the tootV end, lieinside said traine. The tie rod 43 is slidably engaged in two ways which may be formed between two clips 45 and 46 on each side member of section 25, anda guide strip 47 connected to said clips. Thus, the head end of the foot-sectionelevating lever moves when the head section moves. The tie rod 44 at the foot end of the elevating device is equipped with grooved rollers 43, one at each end, these rollers being positioned in the vertical plane of movement of the side members of foot section 26; and

when the foot end of the elevatingdevice is raised by the depression of head section25, the rollers engage beneath the side members of section 26, if the latter is in the position illustrated in Fig. 3, and elevate said foot section. t will also be evident that said elevating device assists in holding the three sections of the bed frame adjusted in horizontal posical llt)

tion, or in'holding the sections at the desired relative angles in positions intermediate the horizontal and that shown in Fig. 3.

Head section may be held in any angular positionr within the range desired, by two segments 23 having substantially rectangular notches 49 cooperating with boltsv on the pedestal. Each segment 23 is pivoted, as to a clip 46, on a sidemember of head section 25. Each segment is guided in a curved passage formed in a guide member 50 Secured to the pedestalby'one of the bolts 15, and tie rod 20, which connects the two side members of the pedestal. As indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 6 and 8, there is a lock-bolt guide 51 formed in each guide member 50, in which a bolt 52 is slidably mounted, so that it may be urged into engagement with one or another -of the notches 49 in segment 23, or may be withdrawn. vBolt 52 has an attached pin 53 projecting laterally through al suitable slot 53a in guide member 50. Two rock levers 54 aresecured, resepectively, to opposite ends of a rock shaft formed by a tube 20a which surrounds tie rod 20. Each lever 54 has a slot 55 in which pin 53v engages. Rocking of either lever54 will, therefore, slide both bolts 52. Each lever 54 is biased by spring 56 in such direction as to urge bolts 52 into engagement with the segments 23. In order that each bolt 52 may be conveniently Withdrawn from engagement with one of the notches in segment 23 to permit raising or lowering of head sect-ion 25, each lever 54 is connected, in the embodiment illustrated, by a wire 57 to one of two pedal levers 58 pivoted, respectively.y adjacent a leg 11 on the tie r'od 19, as shown in Fig. 1. Pressure of the foot of attendant on either pedal lever 58 withdraws thebolts 52, so that thereafter the head section may be moved.

' Footsection26 may also be supported in vhorizontal position, or at any angle below the horizontal within its range of movement,

by notched segments 24, which maybe piv' oted to clips 60 secured to the side bars of said section.A Each segment 24 is provided with-ratchet-like teeth 61, as distinguished from the rectangular notches 49 of the head segments 23. These ratchet-like teeth are engageable by a pivoted dog 62fwhich locks the segment against downward movement, but does not prevent it from moving upward. Each dog 62 is pivoted to a member 338, before mentioned, which is rigid with middle section 27 of the bed frame. Each member 38 consists of two parallel side members 59 between which dog 62 is pivoted, as shown vin 5. Between the dog 62 and a cross-yoke 63, which connects the spaced sides of member 38, the segment 24 is guided. The dog 62 is rigid with a lever arm 64, to which one end of an operating rod 65 isconneeted. The

other end of operating rod 65 is connected to an arm 66 on rock shaft 67, the ends of which are pivoted. in the yoke portions of the U-shaped guides 36, before described. Therefore, as the middle section 27 moves toward the head, carrying with it depending members 38 and dogs 62, the rock shaft 67 also moves to the same extent. On the ends of the rock shaft 67 are leverliandles 68, which may be pushed toward the head end of the frame, in order to disengage the dogs 62 from the teeth 61 of racks 24, whereupon the foot section 26 may be lowered.

For the comfort of the occupant' of the bed when adjusted to position illustrated in Fig. 3, arm rests 69 may be provided. Each arm rest may be pivoted, as to a clip 7 O, secured to a side member of head frame 25. An elevating support 71 foreach arm rest, is pivoted at-one end to the underside of said arm rest at 72, and at its other end in the bracket 22. lNhen the arm rest 69 is elevated, the support 71 assumes a substantially upright position and holds the arm rest as shown in F ig. 3 I Vhen the sections are horizontal, said arm rest and supports fold to the position shown in Fig. 2. This operation ensues automatically, since the pivotal points of each arm rest 69, head section 27 and support 71 are at the four corners of a parallelogram, whereby a parallelmovement device results. In Fig. 1, the right-hand arm rest has been omitted, in order to show parts that would otherwise be concealed by it.

If the bed frame iny horizontal position sustains a recumbent occupant, and it is desired to elevate the head and shoulders of the yoccupant without lowering Lhis feet, the atidepress one of the pedals 58', thereby releasing bolts 52 from the segments 23, and will then lift the head section to the .positionr desi red. When this position has been attained, releasing pressureon the pedal, allows vthe bolts'to advance into the appropriate notches in the segments. The weight of occupants body will assist in elevating the head section, owing to the relation of pivot 28 to fulcruin 35. As the. head section rises, the adjoining end of middle section 27 lowers slightly, and, with the foot section, moves bodily toward the head end. The inclined position assumed by the middle section resists any tendency for the occupants body to slide toward the foot of the bed and Gives a position of comfort.

lf it is desired to adjust the occupant to a sitting position, the attendant will move one ofthe handles 68 thus releasing dog 62 from engagement with a tooth 61 or" segment 24, whereupon section 26 will drop, provided l the section 35 is in ,elevated position, at which in Fig. 2, by lowering the head section, because rollers 48 on leverarms Ll() will then lift the foot section. The toot section cannot be lowered unle'ssthe head sectionl is elevated; but, if the Vhead section is elevated, the foot section may be placed in either a horizontal or inclined position.

rShe body trame is intended to Vbe supported at suiicient height above the floor to enable the bed clothing to be arranged and the invalid, or other occupant, to receive attentionl 'from the attendant` without requiring the latter to stoop to an extent that would malte the tasks diiiicult. T he oblique downward-sliding movement of sections 26 and 27, when the head section is elevated, brings the footboard adjacent to the floor, so that from a sitting position the 'occupant may more easly step to the floor. Thus, the construction described lightens the labor of the attendant,- without increasing the difficulty Ywhich an occupant might otherwise have of getting from the bed to the floor; it also conforms in all positions of adjustment, with the natural positions assumed by the4 body of an occupant for greatest comt'ort in sitting 'or reclining, or in intermediate positions, ad-

visable to be assumed temporarily at times.

Having explained the principle of my invention, and having illustrated and described a specific embodiment thereof', which is the best now known to me, what l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a bed, the combination ot a pedestal, a. sectional body trame adjustably supported thereon, said bodytrame comprising a head section pivotally connected to the adjacent section and ulcrumed on the pedestal about an axis between its head en'd andthe pivotal connection ot said sections to each other; fixed guide bearings onthe pedestal having guidevways inclined downward toward the head end andguide rods onfthe :toot end of said adjacent section slidable longitudinally in said guide bearings. 1

2. In a bed, the combination of a pedestal having side bars a sectionalbody trame comprising a head section pivotally connected at one end to the adjacent section and fulcrumed on the pedestal about an aXis between its head end and the pivotal connection ot said sections to each other; guide bearings on the pedestal having guide ways inclining downward toward thehead end, said guide bearyin said guide ways.

3. In a bed, the combination ot' a pedestal: a sectional body frame adjustably supported thereon, said body trarne comprising a head section, a middle section and a' :toot section pivotally conected, said head section being fulcrumed on said pedestal'on an axis adjacent its pivotal connection vwith `the middle section, and between said pivotal connection and the head end; said middle section being supported on the pedestal by means permitting it to move endwise and bodily downward toward the head end when the head section is elevated; means operable for supporting the toot section atfany angle ot' a plurality ot positions ot adjustment only after the head section is fully elevated; and means for supporting said head section at any angle et adjustn'ient` within its range of movement.

4. ln a bed, the combination ot a pedestal; a sectional body trame comprising a head ,sectionrhaving a lever guideway, a middle section and ka Afoot section pivotally connected end to. end; means tor support-ing said head section on the pedestal between its head end and its pivotal connection withgthe middle section in such manner that it may be angularly adjusted, a level` pivotally supported on the middle section, one endot which engages said guideway and the other end is adapted to ybear against the under side of the toot section so as to bring said sections into horizontal alinement when said head section is-adjusted to a horizontal position ;mean`s torsupporting said vfoot section in horizontal position,lit desired, when the head section is elevated, said means comprising a locking segment on the foot section and a one way nog on the middle section.

ln a. bed, the combination of a pedestal; a sectional body frame supported thereon, said body trame comprising a head section tulcrumed on the pedestal, a middle section pivoted to the head section, and a `tootsection pivoted to the. middle section; means slidably supported on the pedestal for supporting the middle section on said pedestal so that it may move towardand longitudinally ot' the pedestal when the head section is raised; a. guide memberA depending rigidly :trom said middle section and. bracedrigidly thereon by said slidably supported means so as to move with the lmiddle section; a racl: segmentattached to said toot section, said rack segment being guided in said depending guide member; and a dog on said guide member for engaging the rack. n

6. In a bed, the combination'of a pedestal; a sectional body frame supported thereon, said body trame comprising a head section fulcrumed on the pedestal, a middle section pivoted to the head section, and a toot section pivoted to the middle section; a guide bearing on the pedestal; a guide member depending from said middle section; a U-shaped guide member, one limb of which is slidably mounted in said guidebearing.y one end being` secured to said middle section and the other to said depending guide member; a rack connected to said :toot section, said rack being guided in said depending guide member ,and

Cil

a dog on said depending guide member for engaging said rack. n

7. In a bed, the combination of a pedestal having` a transverse tie iod atthe head end, a sectional body 'frame having,` a head section pivoted on the pedestal; a locking segment at each side of the head section; a bolt at each side ot the pedestal foi' engaging said segv ments; a tubular i'oel shaift suiiounding said opeiatively connected to said bolts, and a pedal ulorumed on the lower1 tie rod for moving the rock shaft and bolts.

9. In a bed, the combination of a pedestal having,` supporting legs at the head end in- 'clining downward toward the head end, a tie rod connecting the legs near then` lowei` ends,

a see-tional body frame having a head section pivoted on the pedestal; a locking segment each side of the head section; a bolt at each side oi the pedestal for engaging said ySegments, connections between said bolts whereby the operation of one causes the operation of the other, and a pedal ulciumed on the tie rod adjacent each end, each pedal being operatively connected with both of said boltsv In testimony whei'eof I hereto aiix my signature.

Y WALTER M. LoXLnYa 

